Fluid feeder for domestic water lines



March 10, 1933. J; R u oRD 2,033,427

FLUID FEEDER FOR DOMESTIC WATER LINES Filed Feb.- 28, 1933 Patented Mar.10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID FEEDER FOR DOMESTIC WATERLINES Joseph R. Guildford,

Regina, Saskatchewan,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fluid feeder for domestic water linesand has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a feeder of this character embodying a novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of whichvegetable or similar compounds may be introduced into the water linesfor preventing the formation of scale in hot water piping, coils, tanks,etc., and for preventing the formation of mineral or fungus deposits incold water lines.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fluid feeder fordomestic water lines which will be simple in construction, strong,durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, and which may bemanufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through a feeder in accordancewith the present invention showing the weighted diaphragm thereof inelevated position.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the fluid container.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through the fluid container,showing the diaphragm in the depressed position which it assumes whenthe lower part of the container is not filled with a charge of watertreating fluid.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the embodiment of the inventionshown comprises a closed container which is designated generally by thereference numeral I, said container comprising upper and lower sections2 and 3, respectively, which are detachably secured together through themedium of bolts 5 passing through flanges 4. The marginal portion of aflexible rubber diaphragm 6 is clamped between the flanges 4 of thesections 2 and 3 of the container I, so that said diaphragm divides thecontainer into upper and lower compartments 1 and 8, respectively, thelower compartment receiving the fluid compound which is to be introducedinto the water lines.

The reference numeral 9 designates a substantially cup-shaped weightwhich is secured by a bolt ID, to the upper side of the diaphragm B. Theupper end of the bolt ID has a lifting ring I l.

The top of the container l is provided with a central opening I2 inwhich a removable closure plug I3 is threaded. The reference numeral l4designates a valved vent for opening the upper compartment 1 to theatmosphere when desired. The lower compartment 8 is provided with afilling opening I5 which is closed by a removable plug [6.

The injector portion of the device of the invention includes aY-coupling H which comprises an angulated chamber l8 into which leadsone end of a pipe l9 whose opposite end is in communication with thebottom of the lower compartment of the container l. A globe valve 20, astop cock 2|, and a check valve 22 are interpolated between thecontainer I and. the injector, in the order named.

A tubular body 23 having the inner end of its bore conically flared isthreaded into one end portion of the Y-coupling I! and has threaded intothe opposite end of its bore a pipe 24 which leads to and. connects withall of the plumbing fixtures or a hot water tank. A water supply pipe 25leading from the water main (not shown) is coupled to the Y-coupling I1by means of a longitudinally adjustable tube 26 which is threaded in andtraverses the end of the coupling opposite the head 23. Lock nuts 21 areprovided for abutting opposite faces of the end of the Y-coupling forlocking the tube 26 in adjusted position. Mounted on the inner end ofthe tube 26 is a conical extension 28 arranged to coact with the conicalportion of the bore of the head 23. By adjusting the tube 26 in theY-coupling H, the conical plug 28 may be moved into and out of theconical recess in the head 23.

Connected to the top of the container I and communicating with the uppercompartment 1 is a water supply pipe 29 in which is a control valve 30which is preferably of the gate type. As may be inferred, the purpose ofthe pipe 29 is to introduce water under pressure from the supply maininto the upper compartment of the container 1 above the diaphragm 6 atthe same pressure as that of the water introduced by the pipe 25 intothe Y-coupling IT and reaching as far as the check valve 22.

Briefly, the operation of the invention is as follows:

With the compartment 8 of the container 1 empty, or substantially so,the diaphragm 6 and the weight 9 will be in the depressed position shownin Figure 3 of the drawing. To fill the compartment 8 with the vegetableor equivalent partment 8 being under relatively greater preswatertreating compound, the valve 30 is closed, then the vent i 4 is openedand the plug l3 removed. Then the filling plug I6 is removed and theglobe valve 20 closed. A suitable instrument is then inserted throughthe opening 12 in the top of the container and engaged with the ring Hand the weight 9 and the diaphragm S pulled up to the elevated positionshown in Figure l of the drawing. The water treating compound is thenpoured or otherwise introduced into the compartment 8 below thediaphragm 6 through the filling opening [5. After the compartment 8 hasbeen filled with treating compound the plug IS is replaced and, the saidinstrument is removed from the container. Then the vent I4 is closed,the plug l3 replaced, and the valves 26 and 39 reopened.

Although the pressure of the water in the pipes 25 and 29 and in thecompartment 1 of the container l, and in the portion of the pipe l9between the check valve 22 and the injector is substantially the same, agreater pressure is exerted on the treating fluid in the compartment 8by the diaphragm 6 by reason of the presence of the weight 9. Thus, thefluid in the comsure, is forced through the pipe !9 past the valves 29,2| and 22 and into the lateral portion 18 of the injector, whence it isinjected into the pipe 24 where it mixes with the water. Withdrawal ofwater through the space between the conical extension 28 and the conicalrecess in the head 23 to the pipe 24, as water is consumed in the pipesystem into which the pipe 24 is connected, causes a partial vacuumwithin the coupling H which assists the movement of the treatingcompound from the pipe i9 into the pipe 24.

The stop cock 2| is provided for controlling the flow of the treatingfluid through the pipe line I 9. The check valve 22 constitutesauxiliary means for preventing water from entering the compartment 8 ofthe container I from the Y-coupling I! should the globe valve 20 leak orshould the person performing the refilling operation fail to close saidglobe valve.

It is believed that the many advantages of a fluid feeder in accordancewith the present invention will be readily understood, and although thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described,it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction andin the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to whichwill fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid feeder for a water' line having a branch, a closedcontainer, a flexible diaphragm dividing said container into an uppercompartment and a lower treating fluid containing compartment, acup-shaped weight secured to the upper side of said diaphragm at thevertical axis of the closed container, said branch being connected tosaid upper compartment, and a treating fluid conduit leading from saidlower compartment and connecting said lower compartment with said waterline beyond said branch.

2. In a fluid feeder for a pipe line having a branch, said feedercomprising an injector interpolated in'said pipe line beyond saidbranch, a closed container, a flexible weighted diaphragm dividing saidcontainer into an upper compartment and a lower treating fluidcontaining compartment, said branch being connected with said uppercompartment, a treating fluid conduit leading from said lowercompartment and con nected to said injector, and a check valve in saidconduit preventing flow of treating fluid and water in said conduit in adirection toward said lower compartment but permitting flow in theopposite direction, said injector comprising a cylinder having anangulated lateral portion intermediate its ends with which said-treatingfluid conduit is connected, a longitudinally adjustable tube traversingone end of said cylinder and fed by said pipe line, the opposite end ofsaid cylinder having a discharge opening connected to said pipe line,said opening of the opposite end having a flared inner portion, and aconical head on the inner end of said tube having its sides closelycoacting with the sides of said flared inner portion, said conical headhaving a longitudinal passage therethrough communicating with said tube.

3. In a fluid feeder for a pipe line having a branch, said feedercomprising an injector interpolated in said pipe line beyond saidbranch,

a closed container, a weighted flexible diaphragm dividing saidcontainer into an upper compartment and a lower treating fluidcontaining compartment, said weighted flexible diaphragm creating adiiferential pressure between said upper and lower compartments, saidbranch being connected with said upper compartment, a treating fluidconduit leading from said lower compartment and connected to saidinjector, a check valve in said conduit preventing flow of treatingfluid in said conduit in a direction toward said lower compartment butpermitting flow in the opposite direction, said weighted diaphragmcomprising a flexible sheet attached at its sides to the sides of thecontainer, said sheet having a central part capable of being movedconsiderable distances to either side of a plane passing through thepoints of attachment of the sheet to the container, said weighteddiaphragm further comprising a cup-shaped weight connected to the upperside of said central part of the flexible sheet near the vertical axisof the container.

4. In a treating fluid feeder for a water pipe line, having a branch, aclosed container divided into an upper compartment and a lowercompartment by a flexible weighted diaphragm, said weighted diaphragmcomprising a weight and a flexible sheet, said flexible sheet beingattached at its edges to the sides of the container, said weight beingcup-shaped and attached to said flexible sheet near the vertical axis ofthe container, said flexible weighted diaphragm forming gravity actuateddiflerential pressure means within the container, said upper compartmentbeing connected to said water pipe line through said branch, said uppercompartment receiving said water pipe line pressure, said' lowercompartment being connected by a conduit to said water pipe line beyondsaid branch, a check valve interpolated in said conduit preventing flowof water from said water pipe line-toward said lower compartment, thesaid lower compartment together with said conduit up to the said checkvalve to contain treating fluid, said treating fluid being subjected toincreased pressure by said differential pressure means, thereby caus- 0ing the treating fluid to be expelled beyond said 7 check valve intosaid water pipe line.

JOSEPH R. GUILDFORD.

